Mark smiled at her, and the sincerity of his delight sent an excruciating pang through her body, one of relief and surprise and pure, unadulterated happiness. Hecared. He truly cared, and now she wasn’t shouldering the burden alone anymore.
Mark’s smile faded, and he studied her closely. Ellen didn’t like that look. He usually delivered bad news after a look like that. “Ellen.”
“Yes?” She fought to keep her voice calm. What was he going to say now? How was he going to ruin it this time?
He cleared his throat. “Ellen, I should apologize.”
“You already did,” Ellen said primly, focusing on her food. “No need to make more of a fuss.”
He continued on, blast the man. “I haven’t apologized for this.”
She sighed and looked up at him. “What, then? What?”
“When I said I would allow and support you in your work at the dispensary…I shouldn’t have put conditions on you. Or at least, not selfish ones.”
Ellen raised an eyebrow, waiting for the anvil to fall.
He cleared his throat again, as if trying to buy himself time. “I’m sorry for forcing you to breakfast. I just wanted your company so badly, I was so curious about you. If you like…you don’t have to attend breakfast with me anymore.”
Ellen froze, trying to comprehend what he was attempting to say. “What do you mean?”
He winced. “I mean…I release you from the expectation of breakfast.”
Ellen paused, thinking through it. “And what does this mean for my work?”
“Nothing, nothing at all. Our bargain remains the same.” His brown eyes bored into hers.
“So…you’re releasing me?” Ellen asked.
He nodded, lips pressed into a thin line. “Yes. Your mornings are yours, and I apologize for encroaching upon them.”
Ellen cocked her head. “You do not wish to breakfast with me anymore?”
His eyes widened. “What? No! God, no. It’s my favorite part of the—” He cut himself off, flushing. “It’s my favorite part of the day,” he said quietly, looking down to trace a pattern on the tablecloth with his index finger.
“Well,” Ellen said, the vise around her chest easing. “I must breakfast somewhere.”
“Of course.” He nodded at the tablecloth.
“And we do live in the same house,” she added.
“Naturally,” he replied to the tablecloth.
“It’s practically a habit for me now.” She watched his face tighten nearly imperceptibly.
He gave a jerky nod, chin still in one fist. “For me also.”
“So…we might as well keep our arrangements.” She felt herself flushing, for goodness sake, and immediately took another bite of her potatoes.
Mark finally looked at her, she could see him from the corner of her eyes. He smiled softly. “Very well, I’d like that.”
Ellen took a deep breath, summoning all her courage. “Mark,” she began, then faltered.
He glanced up at her, somehow eager and wary at once.
“When you left, when I followed you to the door weeping and yelling, I said I never wanted to see you again.” She took another breath. “I meant it in the moment, I suppose, because I was so shocked and hurt that I wanted to hurt you, too. But when I calmed a few days later, I realized I shouldn’t have said it.” She bit herlip. “Would you have visited me sooner if you didn’t believe our separation was mutually desired?”
Mark’s eyes widened in surprise. “I…” He trailed off, thinking.